Grapevine plant named &#39;sugrafortyfive&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct grapevine variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ is characterized by the production of a medium-sized, dark red berry with near black skin color and an ellipsoidal, elongated shape. The berries of ‘Sugrafortyfive’ ripen early and are firm and very juicy. The new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ has a similar harvest time as ‘Summer Royal’ (unpatented) but the shape of the berry of the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ is ellipsoidal elongated compared to round for ‘Summer Royal’.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Vitis vinifera

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘SUGRAFORTYFIVE’

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a new and distinct variety of grapevine, ‘Sugrafortyfive’, as herein described and illustrated. The new variety was first discovered by Michael J. Striem in July 2006 and selected as breeder number ‘03082-193-393’ by Terry A. Bacon in Wasco, Kern County, California. The variety was originated by controlled hybridization.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ is characterized by the production of a medium-sized, dark red berry with near black skin color and an ellipsoidal, elongated shape. The berries of ‘Sugrafortyfive’ ripen early and are firm and very juicy.

The seed parent is the varietal selection ‘Sugrasixteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,749) and the pollen parent is the varietal selection ‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434). The parent varieties were first crossed in May 2003. The date of first sowing was March 2004, and the date of first flowering was May 2006.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ was first asexually propagated in December 2007 in Wasco, Kern County, Calif., by Terry A. Bacon using hardwood cuttings.

The new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ looks similar to its pollen parent ‘Sugrathirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434) and has a similar berry color. However, the two varieties differ in that the harvest start date is about July 3 for the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ compared to July 20 for Sugrathirteen (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,434).

The new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ has the same berry color as its seed parent ‘Sugrasixteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,749). However, it differs from its seed parent ‘Sugrasixteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,749) in that the berry shape is ellipsoidal and elongated for the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ compared to ovate for the berries of ‘Sugrasixteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,749). Additionally, the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ ripens earlier, starting on July 3 compared to July 21 for ‘Sugrasixteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,749).

Harvest of the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ starts at about the same time as ‘Summer Royal’ (unpatented) but the shape of the berries of the new variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’ is ellipsoidal and elongated compared to a round shape for ‘Summer Royal’ (unpatented).

The new ‘Sugrafortyfive’ variety has been shown to maintain its distinguishing characteristics through successive asexual propagations by, for example, cuttings.

Variations of the usual magnitude from the characteristics described herein may occur with changes in any of a variety of factors such as growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, management and climatic variation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new grape variety ‘Sugrafortyfive’. The illustration shows the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves, the grape bunch and exterior and sectional views of the fruit. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after the fruit was picked and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based upon the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 1986.

Many of the descriptive values in this specification are based on and conform to those set forth by the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources Institute Grape Descriptors (Vitis spp.) of 1983 and/or 1997, which was developed in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne et du Vin (OIV) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to ‘Sugrafortyfive’ plants grown in the vicinity of Wasco, Kern County, Calif. during 2014, and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil and climate elsewhere.

-   Vine:     -   -   General.—(Measurements taken on a mature vine in its 4^(th)             year from planting unless otherwise noted.) Practices:             Gene-pool-vines: Cane pruned to approximately 6 spurs per             vine. Test-vines: Cane pruned to approximately 6 spurs per             vine. Size: Medium. Height: Medium, Approximately 2.0 m.             Width: Approximately 2.2 m. Vigor: Medium. Fresh pruning             weight: Approximately 6.3 kg per vine. Density of foliage:             Medium. Productivity: Productive. Approximately 40 clusters             per vine after thinning. Yield: Approximately 18 kg per             vine. Crop load: Approximately 2.86 kg per vine (kg fruit             per kg fresh-pruning-weight). Own root: Yes. Resistance:             Neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases or pests             has been observed in this variety.         -   Trunk.—Shape: Circular. Diameter: Approximately 86 mm.             Straps: Short. Surface texture: Shaggy. Inner bark color:             Near Medium Greyed- Orange 165C. Outer bark color: Near Dark             Greyed-green 197B. -   Shoots:     -   -   Young shoot.—Form of tip: Half open. Distribution of             anthocyanin coloration of tip: Striped. Intensity of             anthocyanin coloration of tip: Weak. Density of prostrate             hairs on tip: Medium. Density of erect hairs on tip: Absent             or very sparse.         -   Woody shoot (Mature canes).—Shape: Slender. Internode             length: Approximately 120 mm. Width at node: Approximately             11 mm. Cross section: Circular. Surface: Smooth. Main color:             About Medium Greyed-Orange 165C. Lenticels: Absent. Density             of erect hairs on nodes: Absent or very sparse. Density of             erect hairs on internodes: Absent or very sparse. Growth of             auxiliary shoots: Average 17.7 cm/shoot.         -   Flowering shoot.—Vigor during flowering: Medium Attitude             during flowering on shoots which are not tied: Semi-erect.             Color of dorsal side of internodes: About Light Green 439D.             Color of ventral side of internodes: About Light Green 139D.             Color of dorsal side of nodes: About Light Green 139D. Color             of ventral side of nodes: About Light Green 139D. Density of             erect hairs on nodes: Absent or very sparse. Erect hairs on             internode: Absent or very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs             on nodes: Absent or very sparse. Density of prostrate hairs             on internodes: Absent or very sparse. Anthocyanin coloration             of buds: Absent or very sparse.         -   Tendrils.—Distribution on the shoot at full flowering:             Discontinuous. Thickness: Medium. Color: Near Medium             Yellow-Green 144C. Form: Bifurcated. Number of consecutive             tendrils: Up to 2. Length of tendril: Medium, approximately             9 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Young leaves.—Color of upper surface of first 4 distal             unfolded leaves: About Medium Green 139C. Average intensity             of anthocyanin coloration of six distal leaves prior to             flowering: Absent. Density of prostrate hairs between veins             at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very             sparse. Density of erect hairs between veins at lower             surface of 4th distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse.             Density of prostrate hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th             distal unfolded leaf: Absent or very sparse. Density of             erect hairs on veins at lower surface of 4th distal unfolded             leaf: Absent or very sparse.         -   Mature leaves.—Average length: Approximately 128 mm. Average             width: Approximately 150 mm. Size of blade: Medium. Shape of             blade: Pentagonal. Number of lobes: Approximately 5.             Anthocyanin coloration of main veins on the upper side of             the blade: Absent or very faint. Mature leaf profile: Flat.             Blistering surface of blade upper surface: Absent. Leaf             blade tip: In the plane of the leaf. Undulation of margin:             Slight. Thickness: Medium. Undulation of blade between main             and lateral veins: Absent or very slight. Shape of teeth:             Mixture of both straight sides and both convex sides. Length             of teeth: Mostly Medium, irregular, varies from about 2 mm             to 9 mm. Ratio length/width of teeth: Small, about 0.7.             General shape of petiole sinus: Wide open. Tooth at petiole             sinus: Absent. Petiole sinus limited by veins: Absent. Shape             of upper lateral sinus: Open. Depth of upper lateral sinus:             Deep. Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower             surface of blade: Absent. Density of erect hairs between             veins on lower surface of blade: Absent. Density of             prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of blade:             Absent. Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower             surface of blade: Absent. Density of prostrate hairs on main             veins on upper surface of blade: Absent. Autumn coloration             of leaves: Varies by year, about Medium Yellow-Green 153D to             Medium Greyed-Yellow 162A.         -   Upper surface.—Color: About Dark Green 137A. Surface             texture: Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull. Glossiness: Weak.             Pubescence: Absent.         -   Lower surface.—Color: About Medium Green 141C. Anthocyanin             coloration of main veins on lower leaf surface: Absent.             Glossiness: Weak. Pubescence: Absent. Surface texture:             Smooth. Surface appearance: Dull.         -   Petiole.—Length of petiole: Medium, approximately 7 cm.             Length of petiole compared to middle vein: Much shorter.             Diameter: Approximately 3 mm. Density of prostrate hairs on             petiole: Absent. Density of erect hairs on petiole: Absent.             Color: Light Green 138D with Greyed-Orange 174B in areas             where exposed to direct sunlight.         -   Buds.—Shape: Conical. Size: Medium, approximately 3 mm×4 mm.             Position: Slightly held out. Cane bud fruitfulness: Basal             most fruitful, 4^(th) to 5^(th) bud position. Time of bud             burst: Medium. -   Flowers:     -   -   General.—Flower sex: Hermaphrodite. Length of first             inflorescence: Short, about 9 cm. Position of first             flowering node: Fourth node. Number of inflorescences per             shoot: Approximately 1 to 2. Date of full bloom:             Approximately May 10th. Size (diameter of fully open             flower): Medium, approximately 6 mm. -   Fruit:     -   -   General.—Ripening period: Early starting about July 3^(rd),             with mid-ripe July 8th. Use: Fresh market. Keeping quality:             Good. Shipping quality: Good. Date of first harvest:             Approximately July 3^(rd)Solids-sugar: Medium, about 17%.             Refractometer test: Approximately 19%. Acid: Medium,             approximately 0.53 gr./L tartaric acid. Juice pH:             Approximately 3.5. Tendency to crack: Low. Sensitivity to             sunburn: Low. Fruit shrivel after ripe: No. Secondary             cluster: Occasional.         -   Cluster.—Bunch size (peduncle excluded): Medium, about 450             gm. Bunch length (peduncle excluded): Medium, approximately             27 cm. Bunch width: Approximately 16 cm. Bunch weight:             Medium, approximately 450 g. Bunch density: Medium. Number             of berries: Approximately 95-110 berries. Form: Long             Conical.         -   Peduncle.—Length of peduncle: Medium, approximately 120 mm.             Lignification of peduncle: Absent or very slight. Color:             About Medium Green 141C.         -   Berry.—Size: Medium. Uniformity of size: Uniform. Berry             weight: Medium, approximately 5.6 gr. Gibberellic acid             treated: Medium, 10 ppm to 20 ppm. Shape: Ellipsoidal             elongated. Presence of seeds: Rudimentary. Cross section:             Round. Dimensions: Longitudinal axis: Approximately 26 mm.             Horizontal axis: Approximately 20 mm. Skin color (without             bloom): About Black 202A. Flesh color: About Medium             Greyed-Green 198B. Juiciness of flesh: Very juicy. Berry             firmness: Firm. Particular flavor: None. Bloom (cuticular             wax): Medium. Pedicel length: Medium approximately 7 mm.             Berry separation from pedicel: Medium. Visibility of hilum:             Slight.         -   Skin.—Thickness: Medium. Texture: Smooth. Reticulation:             Slight. Roughness: Absent. Tenacity: Tenacious to flesh.         -   Seed.—Number of seeds per berry: Usually 2. Size: Small.             Color: About Light Green 145A Texture: Soft. Endosperm:             Slight. Fresh weight of seed-traces/berry: Approximately 15             mg. Room-dry weight of seed-traces/berry: Approximately 3.5             mg. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as herein illustrated and described. 